Can Expert Dancers Be a Springboard Model to Examine Neurorehabilitation via Dance?

Abstract

Neuroimaging research in dance investigates neural signatures and networks to better understand the effects of dance on the brain. From studies of experts showing regions involved in learning choreography to looking at how long-term practice of dance may be reflected in structural and functional brain changes, a growing body of evidence suggests that engagement in dance may be both neuroprotective and neurorehabilitative across the life span. This body of research provides a strong basis and explanatory framework for the emerging trend of using dance in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease. We investigate elements of dance that contribute to these findings, and review recent research in this nascent field, starting with a study involving expert breaker Ken Swift. We also look at applications such as Popping for Parkinson’s®, an international project that specifically draws on the cultural and movement vocabulary of Hip Hop. Linking research on expert dancers and the experiences of older adults participating in dance, this chapter presents a comprehensive model of the ways in which dance can contribute to health and well-being across the lifespan.